Enter Sandman

How to play Enter Sandman by Metallica on guitar

This is a great riff-driven song to learn because it feels heavy, steady, and instantly recognizable. You get to lock into a strong pulse and make the song feel powerful without needing a lot of flash.

The chart uses a mix of open shapes and harder barre shapes, so your left hand will need to switch between easy grips and tighter pressure. The main change to watch is the move from Em and G into F# and back to Em, since that jump can break your timing if you rush it.

Start by looping the opening progression slowly and cleanly, then check that every change lands right on the beat. Once that feels solid, bring the tempo up in small steps until you can keep the riff tight and confident at full speed.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.